Customer helps capture armed bank robber in Manchester

MANCHESTER, Maine — Authorities say an Augusta man has been arrested in connection with the holdup of a Manchester bank at gunpoint after a bank patron helped to capture him.

Police say 36-year-old Jonathan Linton of Augusta demanded cash from a teller at the Gardiner Savings Bank on Monday afternoon and then fled in a pickup truck.

A bank patron who was parked in the drive-through banking lane followed Linton and called police.

Deputies with the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office arrested Linton three miles from the bank.

Authorities say Linton, who has an extensive criminal history, including convictions of burglary, theft, arson and assault on an officer, admitted to the bank robbery. He is being held on a parole violation and is expected to be arraigned on Wednesday.